Folding table.



llllllllllllllllll il l l lllllllllll E. H. MOSHER. FOLDING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1916.

Patented July 17; 1917.

EDWARD H. MOSHER, OF SOUTH PARIS, MAINE.

roLfoIne TABLE.

masses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenited may it, foil "1.

Application filed lune' 2'4, 191$. Serial No. 105,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. Mosrrnn, a. citizen of the United States, residing at South. Paris, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements- Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to folding tables and it relates particularl y to tables having round or circular tops;

The object of theinv'ention: is to construct such a circular topped table whiclr will be strong, easilyfolded and which may be cheaply built and put on the market- With these ends in view my invention consists of the combination of parts hereina-fter particularly described and set forth in: the appended claims.

My invention will be readily. understood by reference to the accompanying: drawing in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the table fully opened.

Fig; 2-is a plan of the-under side of the table top with the legs open and one shown in. section;

Fig. 3: is a side View of: the table shown in a folded: position:

Fight is a section onthe line mm of Fig.2; Fig. 5isa section on: the'line-yg f of Fig; 2 and Fig: 6 is a view of: one end of thecleat'.

Like reference figures indicate like parts in all. the views:

In the drawing 1 represents the table top which ispreferably of wood so that it can hold screws and nails. 0

The table top rests when it is in its normal or open position directly on the upper ends of two frames which cross each other preferably at right angles.

One of the frames is made up of legs 2, 2, and cross bars 3 and 4, the upper cross bar 3 being preferably a dowel. This frame is hinged to the under side of the top by yielding hinges here shown as formed of wires 5. One end of each of the wires 5 is formed into an eye 6 which embraces one end of the dowel 3 and the opposite end is turned up and enters an opening in the under side of the table top as shown in dotted lines Figs. 1 and 5.

The wires are firmly clamped to the under surface of the table near their outer ends by clips 7 secured to the table by screws. The greater length of the wire thus acts as a which is preferably dowel which passes up through the bars 4,10; 9 and 3.

Thusone of thesupporting frames having legs 8 and 8 is pivoted to the other having legsQ and may befoldedxagainst'the other as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 prepara tory to-turning down the legs 2.,

The legs 8 and 8*? are held intheir extended position so that they will automati cally lock in place when they are opened and-so that they may be easily releasedwhen the table is to be folded.

One side of each of the legs 8 and 8 is held in opcn'position by a cleat 12 which is secured to the under side of the top and extends centrally across the table top; The frame 8-," 8 crosses the deal: and at the points wherethe legs'cont'act, the cleat is cut away to f0rm=notches 13 to give it afair contact: with the edge-0f the 016311). One of the legs; 8 is held'in extendedor openposition by a wedge shaped piece l tfastened to the table top adjacent to the edge of the cleatandfar' enough away from it to'forn'o arecess into which the upper end of the leg 8 will snap when the leg is opened out. (See Fig. l.)

It will be borne in mind that both the frames are forced constantly upward with a resilient pressure against the under side of the table top 1 by the spring hinges and when in opening the frame 8, 8 the leg 8 strikes the inclined surface of the piece 14 it slides readily upward and snaps into the recess being held firmly in place by said hinges.

The table top is thus caused to rest on the legs 2, 2, 8 and 8 when the table is open and when in use the legs being so looked that they cannot get loose.

When it is desired to fold the table, the leg 8 is seized by the hand and pressed down while the top is slightly lifted lifting the leg out of its retaining recess between against the legs 2, 2, swinging on the pivot dowel 11 as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 and the four legs may swing down with the hinges 5 as a center and fold against the table top, being held in place always by the tension of the wire spring hinges 5.

The tabl'e is opened or unfolded in a similar manner and the whole as described, constitutes a practicable and effective-folding table well adapted to be manufactured by a wood working plant. r

I claim I V a 1. In a folding table, the combination of a table top, two pairs of supportingframes on which the table normally rests, said frames crossing each other and being each composed of two'legs and connecting bars, apivot for connecting the bars to adapt the frames to be folded horizontally together, a pair of spring wires forming hinges connecting one of said frames to the table top, eachwirebeing bent at one end to pivotally connect with one of the cross bars and stops having inclined surfaces 'over which the frame slides, against the pressure of said hinges, for holding the other frame in its normal open position.

2. In a folding table, the combination of atable top','twopairs of supporting frames on which the table normally rests, said frames crossing each other and being each composed of two legs and connecting bars,

a pivot for connecting the bars to adapt the frames to be folded horizontally together, a pair of spring hinges connecting one of said frames to the table top and a stop for automatically engaging and holding the other. frame in its normal open position, said stop embodying a recess in which the upper end of thef'rame is held by the're-' siliency of the spring hinges and an inclined surface for guiding the frame into said recess.

3. In a folding table, the combination of a table top, two pairs of supporting frames on which the table normally rests, said frames crossing each other and being each composed of two legs and connecting bars, a pivot for connecting the bars, to adapt the frames to be folded horizontally together, a pair of spring wires forming hinges connecting one of said frames to the table top, each wire being bent at one end to enter the table top, the opposite end encircling one of the connecting bars and be ing substantially in contact with one of' the legs, a clip for securing said wire between its ends to the under side of the table top and stops having inclined surfaces over which the frame slides against the pressureof said hinges.

4. In a folding table, the combination of'a posed of two legs and connecting bars, a"

pivot for connecting the bars, to adapt the frame to be folded horizontally together, a pair of spring wires forming hinges connecting one of said frames to the table top, each wire being bent at one end to enter the table top, the opposite end encircling one of the connecting bars, and being substanti ally in contact with one of the legs, a clip for securing said wire between its ends to the under side of the table top, screws for holding said clip in contact with said wire and stops having inclined surfaces over which the frame slides against the pressure of said hinges.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWARD II. MOSHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, D. 0. 

